Calls to scrap new tax

IT HAS been a very tough time for farmers over the past year, and the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is arguing the last thing farmers need is to cop a double whammy from the government’s proposed expanded tax for emergency services.

The VFF says this new tax on farm enterprises is poorly timed and not necessary, and has joined calls for the Victorian government to immediately abandon its proposed tax and instead focus on urgently reforming the existing Fire Services Property Levy to ensure it is fair, transparent and sustainable for all Victorians.

VFF president Brett Hosking said the VFF’s position followed widespread community backlash to the government’s new tax proposal, which would see families, farmers, and businesses slugged with massive bills, without any guarantee of improved services.

“Victorians are already doing their fair share, and this latest tax grab is unjustified and deeply out of touch, farmers don’t support it, firefighters don’t, nor do businesses and local governments.

“Instead of piling on a new tax, the government should be fixing the broken levy system we already have.”

The VFF is urging the government to commit to meaningful reform, including:

A cap on levy increases – Introduce a legislated cap so the Fire Services Property Levy cannot increase by more than the consumer price index year-on-year, similar to the rate cap applied to local councils

Protection against levy shock – Implement an individual capping mechanism to prevent property owners from facing levy spikes due to extreme land value revaluations.

Fairer classification and rate setting – Conduct a full review of current land use classifications and rate structures to ensure they are equitable, particularly considering differing service levels between metropolitan and regional communities.

Implement the rebate for CFA volunteers – The government should keep its plan to provide a levy rebate to CFA volunteers to the existing fire services levy.

Mr Hosking said CFA volunteers, so many of them being farmers, were disproportionately giving of their time and their funds to serve the community, and it was only right to look at providing a rebate against the Fire Services Property Levy bill.

“Scrapping this expanded tax and committing to genuine levy reform would be a win for transparency, equity and trust.”